British teacher Ian Lewis has been jailed for 18 months and six weeks for molesting a seven-year-old student in Singapore.
Lewis will serve the six weeks in lieu of three strokes oo the cane as those older than 50 years of age cannot be caned.
Five years jail, a fine and caning is the maximum penalty for molesting any person under the age of 14.
The Straits Times reports that the 66-year-old Briton admitted to “rubbing the girl” in the Orchard area of Singapore sometime before between 16 September and December 2014.
Lewis had also been charged for molesting an eight-year-old girl in March 2015. The teacher moved to Singapore in 2010 and began working at the teaching centre in 2012.
The victim attended his class once a week between November 2013 and December 2014.
Investigations revealed that Lewis sat beside the seven-year-old student during the classes with his hands under the table, molesting her.
The assault occurred numerous times but the victim was too frightened to report it and feared being scolded by Lewis.
The victim confided in her mother after watching an episode of Crime Watch that showed a tutor acting inappropriately towards a student. When the victim’s mother made the police report on 12 July 2015, Lewis had already been suspended following a similar police reported lodged against him by parents of another student.
DPP Chee, who gave the sentence, said Lewis was in a position of trust and authority. Chee cited the victim’s young age, large age gap and inappropriate touching of the girl’s private parts.
